Anthea stood there with a snake in her grasp, its tail wrapped tightly around her arm, its ck and white patterns starkly visible. It was a sight that


    could send shivers down one''s spine. Yet. there wasn''t a hint of fear on her face. She was as calm as if she were holding a piece of rope instead of a


    live snake


    "Ann, you''re amazing!" Karen gave Anthea a thumbs-up, proud of her choice in a granddaughter-inw. "With that courage and skill, who could match


    up? Forget Reba! Not even a hundred Rebas could measure up to a single finger of her granddaughter-inw." Thinking of Reba''s future


    regret made Karen''s heart swell with joy. She couldn''t wait to announce to the world that Anthea was her chosen one. But s, it wasn''t time yet. She


    had to wait a little longer.


    Adah was in awe, looking at Anthea with pure admiration. She had never imagined Anthea wouldn''t be scared of a snake! Karen had nned other


    heroic rescues, but they seemed unnecessary now. Anthea didn''t need protecting at all!


    "Actually, snakes aren''t that scary," Anthea said with a smile. "As the saying goes. ‘strike the snake at its vital point, and it can’t bite.’ I''ve got it right


    where it can''t hurt anyone.”


    "Where''s that vital point?" Adah asked, her curiosity piquedPublished by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Anthea walked over, showing her, "See, this is the spot. Give it a try?"


    "I-I can''t..." Adah retreated behind Mrs. Christensen, terrified. Snakes were terrifying. Cold and scaly, they sent shivers down her spine.


    "Don''t be afraid! It''s just a snake," Karen said, trying to keep herposure, though her legs were shaking.


    Anthea reassured them, "Mrs. Christensen is right. There''s nothing to fear. Why don''t you try, Adah?"


    "I''d rather not..." Adah was covered in goosebumps.


    Sherman stood aside, a faint smile


    ying on his lips as he watched the


    scene unfoltk He''d met many people


    in his life-but Anthea was truly one


    of a kind’ Fearless. A fighter. A >


    snakedatcher, A healer. A chess


    yer, A tech genius. She was like a


    treasure chest of surp ises, and he


    wondered what else she fright


    reveal.


    The snake, harmless and a natural


    predator to pests, was let go by


    Anthea. ‘Qffyou go. Don''t scare


    people far no reason. You''re lucky‘it


    was m€ today, or you could''ve ? oa


    ended up ina soup." Once freed, the


    snake slithered away quickly. Anthea


    d@sted off her hands and:Stood up.


    Adah handed her a bottle of water, "Here, Annie, have some water."


    “Thanks, Adah.”


    After a short break, the group continued their hike. To give Anthea and Sherman some alone time, Karen said as they prepared to descend,


    "Sherman, there''s a chapel further down. Your mom and I will go make a wish. You two head down ahead of us."


    Adah nodded in agreement. Sherman simply nodded. Karen turned to Anthea, "Ann, with your skills, I''m entrusting Sherman''s safety to you on the


    way down.”


    Anthea replied confidently, "Sure, no problem!" Sherman raised an eyebrow. Did he look like someone who needed looking after? So, the group of


    four became a pair.


    Sherman and Anthea, one dressed in


    simple modern attire and the other


    ina ssic stWe, didn''t sh but


    complemented each other


    beautifully, Their route down wasnt


    the sameas the way up, offering


    them new vistas. Amidst a thicket,


    Anthea stumbled upon wild o>


    raspberries, known ocally.as


    brambleberries, tart andsweet to


    taste. In Anthea''s time, rapid


    technological advancement had led


    to severe environmental pollution,


    putting many species on the brink of


    extinction.